Notes and Editorial Reviews

Contents of Blu-ray Discs

High Definition Concert Recordings: Harmonielehre, Short Ride in a Fast Machine, City Noir, Lollapalooza, Scheherazade.2, The Wound-Dresser, and The Gospel According to the Other Mary.
Bonus: John Adams in Conversation with Sarah Willis and John Adams in Conversation with Peter Sellars
Documentary: A Portrait of John Adams as the Berliner Philharmoniker's "Composer in Residence"
John Adams is considered the musical voice of America. His tonal language is at once unmistakable and of infinite variety. Minimalism mixes with imaginative orchestration and a jazz-inflected spirit to create a cosmos full of energy and colour that constantlyRead more reveals new facets. In a unique transatlantic partnership, John Adams has accompanied the Berliner Philharmoniker for a whole season as composer in residence. The orchestra performed a wide variety of his works, from the oratorio “The Gospel According to the Other Mary” and the famous “Harmonielehre” to more unfamiliar treasures. The concerts were conducted by chief conductor Sir Simon Rattle and outstanding guests: Gustavo Dudamel, Alan Gilbert and Kirill Petrenko. In the course of this partnership, John Adams himself also made his debut as conductor of the Berliner Philharmoniker. Read less

Customer Reviews

Average Customer Review: ( 1 Customer Review )

A Feast of AdamsJanuary 17, 2018By Christopher Abbot (Chilmark, MA)See All My Reviews"This set is the first major retrospective of Adams's music since Earbox was released by Nonesuch over 20 years ago. It is a characteristically first-class production from the Berlin Philharmonic's in-house label, with standard CDs and Blu-ray discs that contain concert versions of the works in surround-sound and HD video. The sound of the standard CDs is excellent, and the Blu-rays add depth and definition to the soundstage. The largest work, structurally and in total timing, is the recent Gospel According to the Other Mary, a sister work to El Nino that shares many features from the earlier work, such as a libretto constructed by Peter Sellars and a trio of counter-tenors who serve as a sort of Greek chorus. Though I find that the mixture of contemporary poetry and the archaisms of the King James Bible doesn't always present a coherent narrative, there is no doubting the power of the work as drama, nor the intensely passionate contributions of the soloists (many of whom reprise their roles from the world-premiere recording on DG), chorus, and orchestra, all under the sure hand of Sir Simon Rattle. Harmonielehre, which has benefited from several recordings, none of them negligible, receives what may now be considered a definitive performance from Adams, rivaling that by Michael Tilson Thomas and the SFSO. Just as impressive is Scheherazade .2, with Leila Josefowicz again the inspired soloist. Also reprising their roles are saxophonist Tim McAllister and Gustavo Dudamel in City Noir, which proves that the Berliners can swing just as effectively as the best American orchestras. Alan Gilbert brings his expertise, humor, and rhythmic precision to Short Ride in a Fast Machine and Lollapalooza; I only wish he's been given a more substantial work to conduct. My only reservation is with The Wound-Dresser and its soloist Georg Nigl, whose accent detracts somewhat from the effectiveness of the Walt Whitman text; however, he contributes a very musical and compelling performance, and Kirill Petrenko conducts with sensitivity. This set should be a must-have for anyone seriously interested in the music of John Adams."Report Abuse